Hey there! Hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend. It was so nice to have the extra day to get some things done around the house.
This week, we are thrilled to be sharing the story of ‘Sock Footage’. Marisa Sheff is an example to how to both grow an independently owned company with giving back to your community.
Marisa is offering free shipping in the GTA to our readers with the code WESTSIDE at checkout.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Marisa!
Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 2,975 residential transactions through TRREB’s MLS®System. This result was down by 67 per cent compared to April 2019. Weekday sales remained within a relatively steady range during the month, averaging 130 per day. New listings amounted to 6,174 in April 2020 – down on a year-over-year basis by a similar rate compared to sales (-64.1 per cent).
The average selling price for April 2020 transactions was $821,392 – up by 0.1 per cent compared to the average price of $820,373 reported for April 2019. The semi-detached and townhouse market segments experienced annual average price growth above the rate of inflation. The condominium apartment and detached segments experienced year-over-year price declines on average. The trend for the MLS® Home Price Index Composite Benchmark, which had been on an upwardt rajectory since the beginning of 2019 flattened in April. On a year-over-year basis, the Benchmark was up by 10 per cent. The MLS® HPI indices represent prices for typical homes with consistent attributes from one period to the next. The fact that the MLS® HPI was up year-over-year by a greater rate than the average selling price suggests that the share of higher end deals completed in April 2020 versus April 2019 was down.
If you haven’t had the pleasure of browsing through Deborah Ross’ shop Simply Beautiful or meeting this amazing woman in person, we hope you’ll take a minute to learn a bit more about her. Deb is serious about community, supporting artisans and finding beautiful things that provide beauty and function. Thanks for sharing your story with us Deb!
photo credits: Simply Beautiful : handcrafted & discovered
I feel like the first week of this state of emergency went by in a blur, I was totally engrossed in the theories being batted about on social media and addictively watching the news. I quickly learned that we were in this for the long haul and that I needed to put a plan in place to adapt to this new normal. Everyone deals with crisis differently, but I figured out that if I wanted to be at all productive during this time, I had to limit my time on social media and wean myself off the news, limiting my exposure to only credible news organizations who deliver the facts without the fear mongering. I certainly haven’t been perfect and still catch myself scrolling through Facebook at times, but I am trying to focus on getting some of our behind-the-scenes work done that we never seem to have time to do, get some exercise in everyday and keep my kids educated and entertained. No small task, there is A LOT of baking going on at our house!
We are doing everything in our power to do our part to flatten the curve, as I’m sure you are as well. Real estate is a bit of a grey area at the moment, it has been deemed an essential service, but the governing bodies have been clear that this is not business as usual. They have said that only necessary transactions should take place and face-to-face meetings and open houses should be discontinued. If a showing is necessary, strict physical distancing and sanitary measures should be enforced. Many brokerages are requiring disclosures be signed before a showing and all offers should include clauses to protect both buyers and sellers from situations or delays that could arise as a result of the pandemic.
However, if you are considering selling once this is over, there are a lot of things you can do now to get your house ready for the time when we can get back to normal life.
It’s cheap and can make a huge difference in your space. If your kids are a bit older, you can even recruit them to help out, it will keep them engaged and added bonus, it’s a great life skill. Ideally you have some paint and supplies around to avoid going out to the hardware stores, but if not, some of the small local hardware stores are quiet and could use your business. Also try and tackle any small repairs that you come across in the process. When we do a pre-listing home consultation, 9 times out of 10 we will suggest at least some painting, so this is a great task to check off your to-do list if you have some time on your hands. We would suggest sticking with neutral colours and carrying the same colour palette throughout the open spaces. If you would like to set up a video chat to get our input, we would be happy to connect with you!
It’s April, the sun is shining and the weather forecast is looking favourable. A little vitamin D is always a good idea, so take advantage of this weather by unwrapping the patio furniture and giving it a good scrub down. Clean the furniture with soap and water and wipe down the glass surfaces - this also a great job for kids and even the little ones can join in. Take advantage of the low daytime hydro rates by taking the cushion covers off and putting them through the wash. Shop online for some new throw pillows to give your patio a pop of colour. Another added bonus is that when you are done, you and your family can put it to good use for barbecues, reading or take your WFH outside!
You may not be able to plant, but you can certainly rake and clean out the garden beds, mow the lawn and get your yard ready for planting. You can also do any outdoor touch-ups that may be necessary. My goal for next week is to clean and paint my front porch which took a beating over the winter. It’s also a great time to power wash the deck and clean out the shed or garage.
Even more than painting, decluttering is probably the number one suggestion that we have for homeowners. Take this time to organize and declutter your space, go room by room and you can use our previous blog on downsizing as a guide to get you started. Throw out what is garbage and put any donations in bags and put them in the trunk of your car to be dropped off once the donation centres reopen. We are also in the midst of putting together a room-by-room guide to decluttering so stay tuned!
If you can afford to, support retailers (particularly local businesses) by shopping on-line for items that will give your house that WOW factor when it goes on the market. Bedding, throw pillows, decor items, vases and wall hangings are all great inexpensive items that can pack a lot of punch.
This is a bit of an ongoing task, but is another great one to get the kids involved in. Clean everything. Be methodical and go room by room. Again take advantage of the lower hydro rates and clean all the bedding, the curtains, rugs & couch cushions. Do a deep clean of the bathrooms and kitchen, and don’t forget the oven, fridge and pantry. Not only will your house sparkle but it is also a great preventative measure for combating the coronavirus.
I could have put this under cleaning but I think it deserves its own category. This is a crappy job that goes to the bottom of everyone’s list, but it does make a big difference. Here is a link to a effective way to clean the grout lines between tiles. This also a good time to remove old caulking from the bathroom and replace it with a nice clean, white line.
This isn’t necessarily related to getting your house ready to go on the market, but it can be. If possible, and if you have the time, take up a new hobby or dust off an old one. If you’ve always wanted to learn to sew, try and make some new cushions for your couch, or it can be something completely unrelated, try your hand at a new language or pick up a musical instrument. This is an unprecedented and stressful time and I think that by finding even the smallest amount of joy during this time, it will help to carry us through, and maybe make us better into the future.
Stay safe everyone and please know that we are here for you. If you need assistance or if you would like to ask a question or talk through your options, please reach out, we are always available to chat!
We miss seeing each other. We miss our work routines and our social lives. We miss the kids going to school! And we miss all of the small business owners that make our communities a community.
How do we thank and support all of the small businesses that are temporarily closed but are the cornerstone of our communities? You know, the ones who donate to the kids fun fair at school year after year, or sponsor a sports team, or support worthy causes? The ones that we can count on when we need a neighbourhood walk and a special gift or treat?
We can continue to support them from afar. Here are a few of our favourite local shops that have come up with some creative ways for us to safely continue to shop locally and support them, like they’ve supported us.
The Beau & Bauble has launched a webstore with free neighbourhood delivery. If you need a birthday gift or card, a puzzle or game to pass some time or something shiny for yourself, she literally has something for everyone in the family. Kate also has Gift Certificates for both stores so you can shop now and “indulge later”.
Flowers and plants are always a pick me up. Lauren from Wildhood has worked hard to get her website up and running over the past weeks. I bought a gift card and can’t wait to spend it when the store is full of flowers again.
Coal Miner’s Daughter is a favourite stop in the Junction and Roncy. They are offering Gift Cards online and a selection of their usual line up. Use the code SHIPFREE for free shipping across Canada.
Pretty Clean Shop is open online and is offering free local delivery. We did love the smell of her shop, so miss that for sure, but at least we can get a head start on our spring cleaning with the extra time on our hands!
We all need to keep busy and if you’re a reader Type is doing contactless curbside pickup and west end delivery! You can call 416-761-9973 to place your order.
When this all over, we are going to look to reconnect with friends and family. There is no place I’d rather do that than Famous Last Words. I may even FINALLY take that cocktail course I’ve been talking about.
Deb works tirelessly to bring unique and special gifts to her shop Simply Beautiful. She is offering local porch drop offs and is working on getting her website up for online orders.
Scout has a fantasitc online selection. If you need a gift to lift the spirits of a friend or family member, there are lots of great options. They are offering free shipping on orders over $40 with the code SCOUTLOVE.
If you need a break from homeschooling and some fun with the kids, Tere at Scooter Girl Toys has your back. She is still working out the best/safest way to get goodies to people, but if you give her a call between 11-2 or drop an email and she’ll take care of you.
When we look back at this time, we want to be proud of how our communities stood together and supported each other during all this uncertainty. So continue to shop local if you can find a safe way to do so. Check back on the blog soon, we’ll take a look at organizations and charities that also need our support.
Stay together….but apart.
These are difficult times. The messaging coming from every level of government is, stay home. We feel very strongly that staying home is our best chance of flattening the curve and reducing the impact this pandemic is going to have on our collective health, the economy, our health care system and the real estate market.
At this time our advice to clients is that, unless you are in a position where you have to buy or sell, now is not the time to do so. It is almost impossible for showings to be conducted while social distancing measures are enforced and, on top of that, as a client viewing a home you have no idea who has been in that home before you, the level of sanitization or the health/travel history of the homeowner. As sellers, you are introducing strangers into your home, into the space that you share with your family, and you are also unaware of their health or travel history.
We do not make this recommendation lightly, this is our livelihood, but we feel that the health and safety of the public and realtors themselves should be the top priority. We also feel that, at this time, you will not maximize the return on your investment, and the longer it takes to flatten the curve, the more impact it will have on the real estate market in the future.
We understand that there are circumstances in which buying or selling a property is necessary, but there are a number of measures that we would recommend:
limit the number of people allowed into the home at once and the number of showings allowed in a day
no double bookings
the home must be cleaned and sanitized after every showing, particularly lockboxes, keys, light switches and door knobs
make keyless entry available if possible
virtual tours should be made available and prospective buyers encouraged to use them
have as much information as possible available online - home inspections, photos, virtual tours, videos, floor plans etc.
no open houses
have hand sanitizer available and have agents acknowledge that both they and their clients will use it before and after their showing
have all visitors acknowledge that they are in good health and have not traveled outside the country in the last 14 days
everyone should practice social distancing and keep at least a 6’ distance between them
have a sign posted requesting visitors not to touch any surfaces
paperwork should be signed electronically and offers submitted via email
all communication should be done virtually or electronically
speak to a real estate lawyer before buying or selling, and have them review any clauses specific to COVID-19 you may want to add
Again, if you are able to hold off on listing your home we encourage you to do so, but if it is a necessity, please be sure to implement the recommendations above to ensure the health and safety of you, your family and everyone visiting your home.
This is a continually evolving situation so these recommendations could, and most likely will, change over time. We are here for you, so if you would like to speak over the phone or virtually about the market, your concerns or our recommendations, please reach out and we would be happy to set up a time to do so.
Stay safe everyone and please do everything in your power to help flatten the curve. As we like to say, we absolutely will get through this, but it takes a village.
***Since posting this blog, the province of Ontario has deemed Real Estate an essential service, however, the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) has made it very clear that this does not mean business as usual. OREA requested this designation to allow transactions to close during this time, and to allow necessary transactions to continue, such as when someone has already bought or sold a property and needs to buy or sell another property to ensure the successful closing of the first transaction, thereby preventing a domino effect. OREA has made it clear that all members are to immediately discontinue face to face meetings (showings, open houses etc.) and all client interaction is to be done virtually.
The longer days and warmer weather often trigger people to get in to their spring cleaning and chores. With extra hands around the house, it seems like the next few weeks might just be the perfect time to get a head start on cleaning and home maintenance chores. If you run out of Netflix shows, crafts to do and books to read, here are a few ideas that will help pass some time and prepare your house for the spring.
Check all of your gutters and downspouts and make sure they are doing their job and ready for the rainy season. If you can’t safely access your gutters, consider hiring someone to do the clean out for you. Better yet, get some good quality gutter guards installed so you don’t need to do it every spring. Check your eaves and downspout connections, ensure they extending to the ground and then a good six feet away from the foundation. You can buy a flexible extension attachment if needed but getting this water away from your house can be the difference between a wet and dry basement.
If you have access to your window wells, make sure they aren’t filled up leaves and other debris and are ready to drain water away from the windows.
Have the kids rake out your garden beds and lawns. Even before the flowers start popping up, a clean garden looks fresher than one filled with dead leaves like mine currently does.
Pull out your furnace filter and change it if needed. We try and change ours every three months and it’s amazing how much more efficient the furnace is with a clean filter.
Kids can easily clean the windows from indoors. Have them make a 50/50 vinegar-water solution and let them scrub away.
Check your fire, smoke and CO2 detectors. Replace batteries and have kids dust them off so they are in prime working order.
Pull up your vent covers and have your kids vacuum the registers out.
It’s not a lot, but it’s a start. Having the not fun jobs out of the way means that the first day it’s warm enough, we can pull out our patio furniture and enjoy!
photo cred: @mai.bistro
We’ve been fans of this Asian-Latin fusion restaurant for years but this week they officially became our fav. Mai Bistro is my Aunt J’s go-to spot for lunches, family gatherings and celebrations. This week, she had a reservation but had to cancel because she wasn’t feeling well. Yesterday, the owner / chef sent over a delicious Thai chicken soup to her house for her to enjoy. Thank-you Manh Nguyen, for reminding us what community means. If you are looking for a restaurant in the Dundas/Islington area and haven’t tried Mai Bistro don’t hesitate. From sharing flavourful tapas to ending with Japanese cheesecake this Asian-Latin fusion bistro has something for everyone. Supporting local businesses is more important now than ever. Order takeout, buy a gift certificate to redeem a later date, or go by for a delicious hot meal during off peak hours.
Hope everyone has a good week. Keep smiling!
Okay, I’ll admit it, I don’t love winter, but living in Toronto you really only have two choices, embrace it or complain about it. In the spirit of embracing the cold, this month’s Best of the West is about the best outdoor skating rinks in Toronto’s west end.
I find that if I do embrace winter (and dress warmly!), I actually end up enjoying myself. It’s just the getting out of the warm house that is the struggle! Skating really is such a great winter activity though, not only is it inexpensive but it’s also a fabulous way to spend time with the family or a group of friends. So, where are the best places in the west end to embrace the winter and lace up those skates?
There is a busy ice rink in the middle of High Park where you can take in the natural scenery and do a few laps around the rink. It is also a popular spot for pick-up games of shinny. I did love to skate on Grenadier Pond when the ice was thick enough to do so, but unfortunately due to budget cuts, the city is no longer monitoring the ice so skating there is now a no-no.
I think our city gets high marks for this ingenious addition that was added in January 2018. It is a 220-metre figure eight that is located under the Gardiner Expressway on the lands of Fort York National Historic Site, running from just east of the Fort York Visitor Centre (250 Fort York Blvd) to Bastion St. There is also a winter village that sells beverages, warming stations and free skate rentals on Thursdays, courtesy of Billy Bishop Airport. Thanks to The Bentway not-for-profit and the CBC, skating this year has been extended until March 22nd and is open from 5-9pm weekdays and 12-9pm on weekends.
The Bentway, photo credit: @bbishopairport
Located in Swansea, this popular west end destination has both a hockey rink and a skating trail. The skating trail is built around a tree and has no fences making it popular late at night, particularly with teenagers. The hockey rink has proper boards, a scoreboard and sound system. There's also a large change room and observation room.
Embrace the community spirit at these two side-by-side ice rinks, one dedicated to informal hockey games and one to leisurely skating. Skate rentals are also available on the cheap. Located on the east side of Dufferin, across from Dufferin Mall.
It may be crowded, but it’s worth it! This figure eight trail provides an alternative to the typical rinks found in the city. It is located in south Etobicoke, at Kipling and Lakeshore, and has a picturesque trail, free parking and indoor change areas.
Colonel Sam Smith Skate Trail, photo credit: City of Toronto
A popular destination for shinny, this outdoor rink is located in Trinity Bellwoods Park, south of Dundas, on Gore Vale Avenue. This popular park has it all, including an artificial rink that attracts winter enthusiasts of all ages.
It may not be located in the west end, but we can’t talk about outdoor skating without mentioning the grand-daddy of them all, the beautiful rink at Nathan Phillips Square. It is totally worth tackling the crowds to take part in this very Toronto pastime. With the big Toronto sign in the background, it is a fabulous way to spend a winter afternoon or evening, and a great date night destination. It also features a snack bar, skate rentals, skating lessons and DJ skates.
So lace up those skates #westsiders and I hope to see you out there!